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Voditelj |
Doc.dr.sc. Goran Sedmak, Medicinski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu
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Su-voditelj |
Prof.dr.sc. Nenad Šestan, Yale University School of Medicine
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Institucije partneri |
Yale University School of Medicine
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Iznos potpore |
300.000,00 kn - Unity through Knowledge Fund 60.000,00 kn - Medicinski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu
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Trajanje projekta |
15 mjeseci
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SAŽETAK PROJEKTA
White matter interstitial neurons (WMIN) are large, yet insufficiently explored population of neurons located in the gyral white matter. This neuronal population is phylogenetically conserved and present in various animal species such as rodents, carnivores and primates. Their role, developmental origin, number, morphological and molecular profile are still debated. It has been proposed that WMIN are remnants of the transient fetal subplate zone. However, the exact number and subpopulations which survive into adulthood are still unknown. They are present in all parts of the cerebral cortex with varying density and distribution. WMIN have been linked with many important functions in the human brain such as regulating blood flow or sleep cycle. Furthermore, WMIN have been implicated in the etiopathogenesis of the many human brain disorders such as epilepsy, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis. Although this neuronal population has important role in the proper functioning of the human brain, very little is known about its molecular and transcriptional profile. There are no studies in the human brain dealing with the transcriptome of this neuronal population. In order to better understand its role in normal and pathological functioning of the human brain a normative data about its origin, number, distribution, morphological and molecular profile needs to be generated. The goal of this proposal is to investigate in detail the number and regional differences in the distribution of WMIN; elucidate developmental origin of WMIN and to characterize morphological and molecular profile. In order to achieve these goals we will use combination of classical and novel methods such as: isotropic fractionator for neural quantification; single-cell RNAseq in order to determine transcriptional profile of WMIN; Neurolucida system for morphological reconstruction and in-situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Proposed research will be conducted at Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb School of Medicine and Department of Neurobiology, Yale University School of Medicine. The tissue used in the proposed research is available through Zagreb Neuroembryological Collection, located at Croatian Institute for Brain Research, and Brain Collection of Professor Nenad Sestan at Yale University.
